This is a little blog about stuff. My stuff. Not your stuff.
I’ve been thinking that I could be a successful blogger with thousands of posts and hundreds of thousands of followers. I’ve read all the advice on becoming a successful blogger. I can see how all of that would work.
Sadly, it’s not me. I am not that guy.
So I’ve decided to become an unsuccessful blogger. I am going to do it my way for me. My audience is me and my voice is mine.
Here in these pages I shall explore my faith, my woodworking and marquetry, my joy in singing sea shanties, my delight in literary criticism and doing intertextual readings, my bad jokes, my bad poetry, my need for power tools – everything with the occasional right turn at Albuquerque. Well almost everything. There are boundaries – lines I won’t cross but I am not going to tell you what those lines are or where they are. I reserve the right to change boundaries – to extend or to pull back.
I reserve the right to do as I damn well please without regard for my readers.
So, who am I?
I am Andrew. First and last of my kind. I am one of the first to build and use a personal computer and one of the last to create a Facebook account. I am one of the last ‘baby boomers.’ Born when the masses of World War II babies were just leaving high school. Too old to be a GenX but too young to clearly be a boomer. I am stuck between. I missed out on being a ‘yuppie’ but was never part of the downtrodden masses. I never understood 80’s rock and roll. At church I am the youngest in the room but at work I am the “gray beard” waxing wistfully over past achievements and hoping that I’ve have the energy to cross one more bridge. I am a leader but often sit as an outsider looking in.
I am at one with my duality.
The world is a mystery to me and I am content not knowing all the answers. A good question delights me more than a solid answer.
I am a mystic.
I am Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 
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Oh I love what you have written here! I too have decided an unsuccessful blogger sounds like far less work and effort for me. If I am not enjoying myself I tend to move on. What else is the point of life after all??? I would really love to hear you sing a sea shanty, truth be told! Have you posted any????? 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words. While I love listening to shanties, and sometimes sing one – I’d never record me singing. The world is better off not hearing my croaking singing voice.
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I have a croaking voice too, doesn’t stop me from playing rock band 🤣 I wouldn’t record me either!!
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Betsy, my daughter, of parenting is funny blog hooked,me onto this. Always enjoyed your funny comments on her blog, and your observations are funny on yours. Sign me up! Ever thought of stand up comedy. There are openings: Chelsea Handler, Griffin, Amy Schumer, that C. K. guy I never heard of. You’d be a riot.
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Glad you stopped by, I try to new stuff each week. I’ve thought of stand up, but I don’t know, with the blog I can say my funny things sitting down. Lot less work that way. In any case, Betsy promised that when she gets her talk show, I’ll be her first guest.
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Thanks for connecting Andrew. This post is so refreshing! I can relate and look forward to reading more.
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I post most weeks. Stick around, sometimes I even write stuff worth reading.
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👍
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Will do! 🙂
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the blog on Automation is exceptional. Sorry i’m commenting here since somehow I couldn’t comment there. I wanted to ask that is opting for electronics engineering not good? I am also interested in electronics as you are, But what you said about automation and ever-changing technology seems very true.
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sorry about the comments. I loved EE, it was great, but to do that, or any engineering, you have to be willing to engage in a life of constant learning, constant changes, and always looking towards the future being ready to change directions. They’re will still be a need for EEs, but only the best will be able to make life long careers out of it. If you have a passion for it, do it.
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Hi, Andrew. Cool! Very sympathetic ‘about.’ Being last but not least, so why don’t you create the Facebook page soon?:-) All the best! Mathias
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I did eventually create one, but don’t use it much.
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Very interesting blog!
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Thank you. Sometimes it’s even good.
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Great “About” post – must work on mine! Also made me think of Spooky Men’s Chorale – Don’t Stand Between a Man and his Tools
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Love it!
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One of the best About pages I’ve ever read.
I’m glad to have found your blog. 🙂
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Glad to have you here. Keep reading.
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Always a pleasure to visit here and catch up with your thoughts. I will keep returning!
Regards Thom.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Let me see if I can provide you with a good question….Have you heard of Thomas Traherne?
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I’ve heard of him – poet, theologian, bit of a mystic, and born in Hereford as I recall – just over the hills from where my wife was born and raised in Malvern. I should read more of his stuff. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sure! Your post said you enjoyed a good question, so I thought that might be one. 🙂
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“… use a personal computer and one of the last to create a Facebook account…” LOL
When I was a boy I rock with a Timex 68k – just like a Spectrum 48k but with cartridges- Now I still don’t have a facebook acount, or a “smart phone”… My instagram account was made -last moth- by my step daughter and now I struggle a lot just trying to keep up with this tech stuff!
All the best
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I love your perspective on blogging. You have a splendid site yourself with beautiful content! Looking forward to seeing more of your posts 🙂 – Cezane
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I’m not sure why I am just reading your “about me” now since I have been following and enjoying your blog for a while now…sounds like we are from the same “in between” era. I too have lots of gray hair (although I do my best to color it) got my first gray hairs at the tender age of 14, totally white by 30.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this. Not many people do. And I am one of those maddening people who has never had a gray hair and it looks like only now in my late 50’s am I showing any signs of gray. Likely it will go full gray by 70…
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I so like that about the ‘good question’ rather than the solid answer.
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I’ll admit it, I love asking questions more than answering them.
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I think this is the funniest About-Me ever written by anyone…am glad I bumped into your blog.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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I have nominated you for The blogger interview tag award. You can accept or pass. To view the award please follow this link https://seeingthewhisper.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/a-little-bit-more-of-me-through-the-blogger-interview-tag-award/
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Thanks for the kind thought. I’ll respond more fully in a day or so.
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You’re welcome
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Hi. I have nominated you for The Writer’s 777 Challenge if you wish to partake. If not, no worries, please just accept is as my recognition and appreciation of your blog. Here’s the link: https://annikaperry.wordpress.com
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Thanks for the kind thought. Nice to get recognized. I did a longer reply on your blog. I’ll aim for some thing later this week.
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Wonderful—honest and down-to-earth, Andrew! Nice to meet you! I am from Wisconsin. I have always wanted to visit the West…maybe some day…but at least your blog takes me closer to the imagined destination! Best to you!
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Thanks for your kind words. You should make the trip some time, you’d like it. I’ve only been to Wisconsin once when I as very young. Some day I’ll make another visit.
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Hi!
I have nominated you for the No Strings Attached Award. I truly enjoy reading your blog and look forward to reading more.
https://simplemomentsoflife.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/the-no-strings-attached-award/
Love,
Nimi
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Thank you so much for your kind words and liking my blog enough to think of me. I’ve been enjoying reading your stories. Keep writing!
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You ARE a successful blogger because you have something wonderful to say and we are listening. I can relate to this. I would love to have thousands of followers as well, but , until I do, I will write from my heart and see what happens. It helps me so that is a plus. Thank you for visiting my blog often. I appreciate you.
Lynda
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Hi, thank you for following my blog, good to be across yours too! 🙂
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Hi Andrew – nice to meet you! Thanks for following our blog – following back and look forward to your postings. See one more blogger following you so maybe you will become that famous blogger you first thought 🙂
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Don’t know – I’d have to change my ‘about’ page. 😉
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First, glad you liked my haiku. Second, your About made me laugh out loud for real and smile. Great viewpoint.
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Happy you stopped by. Sometimes I think my about page is the best part of this blog…
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Hi Andrew! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Great to meet you and great to know a fellow boomer, although we are a little earlier on in the boomer generation. Take care!
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Great to hear from you. I am looking forward to reading more on your blog.
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Hi Andrew, nice to meet you. Thank you for stopping by my blog and the like. I enjoyed reading your blog and will follow to read more. Best wishes!
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Your blog looks very interesting. I am looking forward to reading it more. Thanks!
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Thank you for following my blog. I like what you are doing on your blog and have started following you.
Allan
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Thanks! Thought your blog is interesting too.
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On reading this, I think we have a whole lot in common, despite being obviously unique critters ourselves. One other exception being that I’m hoping not to become a greybeard, since I’m female. But I’ll readily admit to being greyish. I like to think it works on me. 😉
Cheers,
Kathryn
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I get greyer all the time and I avoid the greybeard by shaving daily, but lately I am seeing grey on top. Not sure if I shave my head or not…
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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Love your message here. If I ever find myself singing a sea shanty, I will end it with a toast to your About page. .
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Thanks! And remember that a shanty is best sung while pulling on ropes…
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Hello Andrew, I just dropped in to thank you for the like on my post on the Lake Boga Flying Boat museum. Your feedback was greatly appreciated. I love your marquetry. I have a couple of pieces decorating my walls here. GG
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Loved reading your post on the museum. keep writing.
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Enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Shine On
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Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks for the visit and we share the the idea that our blogs are for
“Us ins”. \o0/
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Hello Andrew.
Thank you for showing up and choosing to follow my fledgling website. You have a great site and I love the fact you are doing it for you. As I figure out this thing called blogging wondering if I should put some more photos in, self disclose more, what to do with my short stories, how autobiographical a post should be ….all the choices that are showing up to be made…always I get back to laughing and say “Hey, this is my website, my blog…I get to do what I want!” Your very real proof that is the correct way to navigate. I am reminded of this wonderful and appropriate quote:
“I know now that most people are so closely concerned with themselves that they are not aware of their own individuality, I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say in paint.”
Georgia O’Keeffe
All my best to you,
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You’ll do fine, just keep at it.
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Thank you.
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Enjoyed “meeting” you, Andrew. I was one of those WWII babies.
Smiled when I saw your “follow,” as this morning I just read the call of Andrew to follow in John’s gospel. Good luck with your blogging.
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Thanks for visiting my blog. I too write for myself and set up a blog because I wanted to share and felt my facebook account was too small.
Terry
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Andrew, sounds like we have a lot in common. I am a late boomer, born in 60, and a bit of a mystic. Centering prayer – Thomas Keating, etc. Last week I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Two samples out of 12 came back positive. Gleason score was 6 – good, but Prostavysion also 6 – bad. Right now reading about Prostate cancer and considering options. God’s peace.
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Matt, sorry you have to deal with that PC beast. The good news is that G6 is very treatable. Bad news is that normal changes and you still have to deal with the decision and treatment process. There are lots of good resources out there.
Thanks for stopping by my little blog.
Peace.
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Just got the ABQ reference. LOL!
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Hello,
Just found you on the Healing Well site. I live in ABQ, and have a partner with PCa. Glad to read this. Are you guys living in ABQ?
Susan
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I’ve been to ABQ and even to a bbq but I don’t live there. Glad you found the blog.
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Hello Andrew;
Thank you very much for the information you sent me yesterday, on where to find the pattern for the Lamb knitting caddy. I got the book at our local pharmacy here in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Thanks once again.
Stephen
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Hello Andrew;
My name is Stephen and I came upon your site while looking for the pattern for the lamb knitting caddy. I have tried to get the pattern from a Woodworking dealer here in Nova Scotia, Canada. He had a firm from Minnesota send me the plans twice now, since July 30, 2012 and still have not gotten them, something going on with the postal service. I was wondering if you can tell me the name of the magazine that you had gotten it from. I have some people interested in me making the caddy for them and I need the plans to work from. Any help you can provide will be most appreciated. Thank you, Stephen
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Hi Stephen,
I got the patter out of the “Srcollsaw Woodworking & Crafts” Magazine, Issue 48, fall 2012. It is published by Fox Chapel: http://www.scrollsawer.com
The designer is listed as Paul Meisel, http://www.meiselwoodhobby.com
You should be able to get the magazine with the pattern or contact Paul
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I’ve nominated your blog for The Versatile Blogger Award! No problem if you’re not into these things. For more info see
http://photockie.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/versatile-blogger-award/
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Well, I a flattered that you’d think of my little site for any kind of award. Your photo site is certainly filled with stunning pictures and I look forward to getting your daily pic. I’d certainly vote to give you a vote anytime.
I am not really in awards myself – not why I started this little part of the blog-sphere but I do appreciate your kind thought. I’ll get a post up in a day or two with my thanks and 7 things. I don’t know about 15 web sites though. I only follow about 6 blogs regularly and you’re two of them. 🙂
Again, Thanks!
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Thank you for liking my post … I like your blog! Love the main photo … Ireland?? I think I’ve been in that exact same spot. Paige
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I do like reading your posts. I have to admit that I don’t really know what the main photo is. It came with the wordpress theme and I liked it so much that I never changed it. I know I should put up one of my own. Well, when I take a better one I’ll replace it. maybe. 😉
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I just found your blog. You happened to join a scroll saw community online which I am a moderator and long time member of. I have been reading your blog for a while and enjoy the information and your humor. I also saw where another Mike has opened up and told of his bought with PC. I am a 3 year survivor myself. Lately my PSA scores have begun to rise again so we are watching a little more closely. I have undergone surgery and radiation therapy. It is not a fun ride but a journey that needed to be taken. You are both in prayers now.
I’m a Mike also aka wood-n-things . Keep the faith. Hope you don’t mind my posting here…
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Please stop by anytime. I usually only post once a week and you can never tell what might come of my brain. On the PC front I’m doing well so far. One radiation treatment done and the first PSA test looking good.
Being in the shop and doing my marquetry and scroll saw has really helped my mind and spirit deal with this disease. That a doing this blog. I’ll be on the scroll saw community for sure.
I hope your PSA stops that rising thing. This PC is a bear to deal with. You’ll be on my prayer list.
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Your words and deeds and life inspire me! Thanks, Andrew.
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Hello Andrew, I am Mike. I just came across your blog while searching for info on fPSA. Sounds like we have a few things in common, I also go back to the early computer days, built my first computer from a cosmetic reject SBC-80/10 bare board pulled out of Intel’s dumpster sometime around 1975. I’ve also been diagnosed with early prostate cancer, have just been keeping an eye on periodic test results for about a year now. So far, my urologist has agreed that waiting a bit is a reasonable strategy. I just lost Kaiser coverage and am looking for a new urologist. I haven’t had much time to review your blog, and will have to go back a bit and try to catch up. I’m hoping to learn from you about my situation. Thanks!!
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Hello Mike,
My first computer saw a S-100 bus system that I built. The mother board was salvaged and the CPU was from a kit. The memory I wire wrapped myself from my own design – 16k static RAM on one board!
Prostate cancer isn’t fun and there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to figuring out what to do. My blog on PC starts with this entry: https://andrewsviewoftheweek.com/2012/01/01/first-post-again
I also wrote a guest post for the HealingWell blog about my journey: http://blog.healingwell.com/2012/03/guest-post-just-live.html
All the best on your journey. You’re on my prayer list now.
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